Yusuf Baran

Chemotherapy is the most widely used treatment strategy for cancer which is the highest second reason for humanbeing deaths after heart related diseases. However, cellular resistance mechanisms developed by cancer cells and tissues in the beginning or proceeding times to applied anticancer agents is a significant problem preventing succesfull therapy. Resistance developed by cancer cells to structurally and functionally different cytotoxic agents is called as multi drug resistance. The resistance can be observed in the beginning of the treatment or during the treatment known as intrinsic or acquired resistance, respectively. The resistance phenotype is associated with the tumor cells that gain a cross-resistance to large range of drugs that are structurally and functionally different.

Drug resistance mechanisms have different molecular genetics and biochemical reasons depending on the applied drug and the type of cancer. Secondary genetic alterations and disorders in cancer cells may also result in drug resistance. That is why it has vital importance to study and consider all signaling pathways, in multidrug resistance of cancer.

Multidrug resistance raises via many unrelated mechanisms, such as overexpression of energy-dependent efflux proteins, decrease in uptake of the agents, increase or alteration in drug targets, alterations in cell cycle checkpoints, inactivation of the agents, compartmentalization of the agents, inhibition of apoptosis, increases in DNA repair mechanisms, problems related with drug metabolism and aberrant metabolism of bioactive sphingolipids. Exact elucidation of resistance mechanisms and molecular and biochemical approaches to overcome multidrug resistance have been a major goal in cancer research. In this talk, we will explain the mechanisms contributing multidrug resistance in cancer chemotherapy and also touche on the approaches for reversing the resistance.

Biography

Dr. Yusuf Baran was born in 1977. After receiving his bachelor degree in Dicle University, Department of Biology between 1994-1998, he earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 2002 and 2006, respectively, in the Middle East Technical University, Department of Biological Sciences. During his Ph.D. studies, he worked in the Medical University of South Carolina, Hollings Cancer Center for 6 months in 2005 and 2006. He worked as a Faculty at Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics from 2007 to 2015.

Dr. Yusuf Baran has been involved in more than 30 scientific research projects supported by national and international organizations. Dr. Yusuf Baran has authored or co-authored in more than 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts. His scientific achievements has been recognized and awarded by national and international accredited institutions holding more than 100 awards.

“Outstanding Young Scientist Award” by Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2010; by Science Heroes Association in 2014; and by Experimental Hematology Association in 2016,

“Outstanding Young Person of Turkey in Scientific Leadership”, by International Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs in 2013,

More importantly, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran has been honored as “2013 Young Scientist” by World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2013. This honor by WEF is bestowed each year to recognize the most distinguished science leaders under the age of 40, nominated from around the world. Dr Baran’s selection is in recognition of his record of scientific excellence, his commitment to society and potential to contribute to transforming the world through his scientific knowledge.

He was also elected as “2015 Young Scientist” by World Science Forum in 2015, and honored with his election to “Science Diplomacy Program” in 2016 by The American Association for the Advancement of Science and The World Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran is a member of Executive Committee of The Global Young Academy; a founder member of the Academy of Engineering and Technology for the Developing World; a member of World Association of Young Scientists; a member of the World Economic Forum, Young Scientist Program; He is a Young Scientist Ambassador.

In his research, Dr. Baran focused on molecular biology of cancer, multidrug resistance mechanisms and reversal of resistance, science and technology policies.

Currently, he is the dean of Faculty of Life and Natural Sciences and head of Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Abdullah Gul University.